Former Manchester United goalkeeper, David de Gea, may be on the verge of ending his nine-month sabbatical from professional football by joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab, according to reports from The Daily Mail.
Despite being just 33 years old, de Gea has faced challenges in securing a new club, turning down offers from various clubs in England, Spain, and beyond. In the summer, he reportedly rejected Inter Milan’s offer to replace Andre Onana, the Champions League finalists’ departing goalkeeper.
One major stumbling block in de Gea’s negotiations has been his reluctance to lower his wage demands, set at an impressive £375,000 per week – a figure that makes him the highest-paid goalkeeper globally. This hefty salary significantly exceeds the earnings of other top goalkeepers, such as Jan Oblak at Atletico Madrid (£305,000) and Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich (£280,000 per week), as reported by salarysport.com.
Despite potential opportunities in the MLS and America, which would align with the career of de Gea’s celebrity wife, it appears the Spaniard is now leaning towards a move to Al-Shabab. In November, there were rumors linking him to Al-Nassr, a fellow Saudi club led by Cristiano Ronaldo, but nothing materialized.
Al-Shabab, however, seems to be a more viable option for de Gea. The Middle Eastern side has already secured a deal for Ivan Rakitic and is reportedly considering a move for Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron. Currently sitting 11th in the Saudi top flight, Al-Shabab has won just one of their last seven league games before the winter break. If de Gea finalizes the deal, he will have a challenging task ahead as the team seeks to improve its league standing.
As negotiations progress, the football world awaits confirmation on whether David de Gea will make his return to professional football with Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League.
